Elis screamed internally at the sudden shift in the Seven Princesses’ behavior; they were now treating her with a friendliness that was a far cry from their previous distance. Nevertheless, she managed to keep the conversation moving inoffensively.
Though her nerves and stomach were taking a battering, the fact that she remained outwardly calm and smiling was a testament to her training as a lady of the Hamilton Marquis House.
(Still, Kaito-sama’s influence is truly breathtaking. I never dreamed the Seven Princesses would be so friendly toward me. Since I haven't invoked the name of the Hamilton Marquis House, I must treat this as a personal association rather than a formal one involving my family, but even so, this is an immense benefit for the future.)
Thanks to Kaito occasionally following up in the conversation, the dialogue was relatively easy to sustain. Gradually, Elis began to regain her composure.
Of course, compared to her usual self, she was still in a state of absolute chaos, but she had recovered enough to keep up appearances without major issues.
Just then, Rosmiel leaned in close to Camellia and whispered something. Camellia gave a small nod and spoke up.
"Til-san, Erial-san, Jutia-san, it is nearly our Reservation Time. We should probably head toward the shop so we don't intrude on Kaito-san and his companion any longer."
"Oh, you're right, you're right. It would be rude to hold them up for too long."
"Quite so! Well then, Kaito-kun-san, Elis-san—Til and the others are off to Nifty's Cafe. Let's talk again soon!"
With the cafe’s Reservation Time drawing near, the group prepared to part ways. Having survived what felt like a walk through a minefield, Elis let out a soft sigh of relief.
"Yes, I hope you all have a wonderful time, Til-san."
"We will! Kaito-kun-san, you're going shopping with Elis-san, right? Have fun with that too!"
Tiltania and the others called out in bright voices, waving their small hands as they headed toward the shop. After seeing them off with a deep bow, Elis tilted her head.
(Wait... did the conversation just take a strange turn?)
The doubt surfaced in her mind, but before she could find an answer, Kaito spoke to her with a slightly apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry, Elis-san. That got a little chaotic."
"N-No, not at all! On the contrary, getting to know the Seven Princesses is a wonderful honor. I'm quite delighted, so please, do not worry about it..."
"Is that so? I’m relieved to hear that. Well then, shall we head into the shop as well?"
"Indeed. We can't stay standing here forever..."
Elis reflexively replied with a smile, but a moment later, her mind became a whirlwind of confusion.
(Huh? Wait? Wasn't that weird? Somehow, isn't it as if Kaito-sama and I are going to shop together? Kaito-sama? Wait, that's not right, is it? We were supposed to go our separate ways in front of the shop... Are we going inside together? Won't people mistake us for a couple?)
Before she realized it, she was walking into the building alongside Kaito. Elis’s mind was pushed to the brink of panic. However, in her eyes, Kaito held a far higher social standing, and she could not possibly voice an objection to his lead.
Their reservations were checked as they entered. Despite her confusion, Elis managed to inform the staff that she and the maid waiting behind her were the guests for the slot. Of course, Kaito was a Face Pass, so he was exempt from the Capacity Limit for Reserved Entry.
Because the shop restricted the number of guests allowed inside, it wasn't overly crowded. However, there were still a fair number of people present, and Elis identified several familiar noble figures in the shopping area.
Among them, she spotted a Count’s daughter who belonged to the same Reformist Faction as the Hamilton Marquis House. She was an acquaintance of Elis’s, and upon seeing her entering the shop with Kaito, the girl stared at them, her expression blank with shock, before doing a double-take.
(She probably won't call out to me here, but it’s a certainty that a letter asking for an explanation will arrive later. But I have nothing I can say! I don't even understand why this is happening myself!)
No one heard Elis’s internal scream. Just as she feared, the situation naturally flowed into her browsing the shop together with Kaito. Elis could do little more than wear a strained smile as intermittent bouts of stomach pain assailed her.
Serious-senpai: "Looking at Kaito's thought process, he probably sensed Elis's distress and tension through Sympathy Magic while she was facing the Seven Princesses... so he might be thinking of giving her a gift as an apology. If that's the case... the stomach pain is likely to continue."
???: "The fact that she recovered enough to fake composure after talking for a bit was also a bad move. Now that she's regained her Emotional Control, her confusion has become harder for Kaito to detect..."